BINGHAMTON, N.Y. - The Binghamton Senators, in conjunction with the Ottawa Senators, announced today that Mike Busniuk will return as assistant coach of the American Hockey League franchise for the 2009-10 season. Busniuk will work with new head coach Don Nachbaur, who was hired July 17.

Busniuk enters his seventh season in the Senators’ organization. Prior to joining the B-Sens, Busniuk was head coach and director of hockey operations for the Muskegon Fury of the United Hockey League. His pro coaching career began in 1993 as an assistant coach with the Binghamton Rangers (AHL). When the franchise moved to Hartford, Conn., in 1997, Busniuk remained as the assistant for another five seasons with the New York Ranger-affiliated Wolf Pack.

“I’m happy and look forward to being back in Binghamton. I love the town and really enjoy the fans," said Busniuk.

"We’re going to make the playoffs this year. Ottawa signed some pretty good players for us down here. I know Don Nachbaur is a great coach and is going to lead us in the right direction.”

Busniuk was the Montreal Canadiens’ 10th pick (67th overall) in the 1971 National Hockey League Entry Draft. The Thunder Bay, Ont., native appeared in 143 NHL games, all with Philadelphia after being signed as a free agent by the Flyers in October 1977. He also appeared in 397 AHL games with the Nova Scotia Voyageurs and the Maine Mariners, where he registered 160 career points and was part of five Calder Cup championship clubs.

Busniuk is only the second assistant coach in B-Sens history, following Gene Reilly (2002-03).